Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mangave Jaguar
Mangave 'Jaguar' has fleshy, olive green leaves covered in purple spots, the pattern that gives it its name. It grows fast and makes pups freely, forming a tight clump about 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It works as a single plant in a large pot or as a spreading clump in a dry garden. It keeps growing after it blooms instead of dying back like an agave.
Best for: large pots, rock gardens and dry beds where a clump can spread. A fast mangave with spotted olive leaves that fills in with pups and keeps growing after it blooms.
It makes a good single plant in a large pot. At 2 to 3 feet wide when mature, it needs a wide pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining cactus mix.
It grows fast and makes pups freely, so one plant becomes a tight clump. Leave the pups to fill in, or twist some off to plant elsewhere.
It is drought tolerant once rooted and fits rock gardens and dry beds. Plant it where water drains away and it gets sun most of the day.
It can be hurt below about 20 to 25°F, so cover it on hard freeze nights. Soggy soil can rot it. Hot afternoon sun in summer can burn the leaves.
- Plant to plant2-3 ft apart, center to center
Plant into dry soil and wait about 1 to 2 weeks before the first water, then water about every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Once rooted, soak it and let the soil dry. It takes more water than agaves and grows faster with it, but soggy soil rots it. Give little or no water in winter.
In the Valley, give it some shade from the hot afternoon sun in summer. Put light shade cloth over a new plant for its first few weeks, longer if planted in early summer.
It can be hurt below about 20 to 25°F. On freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet down to the ground, not plastic, and uncover it in the morning. Move potted plants under a patio cover or next to the house.
It makes pups freely and forms a tight clump, and it keeps growing after it blooms. To thin the clump, twist or cut pups free, let them dry a few days out of the sun, then plant them.
Feeding is optional, and if you feed, use a light succulent fertilizer in spring or early summer, never on a new plant and never in fall or winter. No pruning is needed, just remove dead leaves at the base.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Mangave 'Jaguar' get?
It forms a clump about 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The leaves grow upright and arch outward.
How fast does Mangave 'Jaguar' grow?
It grows fast and makes pups freely. Like most mangaves, it grows much faster than most agaves.
Why is it called 'Jaguar'?
Its fleshy, olive green leaves are covered in purple spots, a pattern that looks like a jaguar's coat. The spots get stronger with more sun.
Does 'Jaguar' die after it blooms?
No. It blooms now and then on tall, thin spikes, and it keeps growing afterward instead of dying like an agave. Its pups keep the clump growing too.
Does it make pups?
Yes. It makes pups freely and forms a tight clump. Twist a pup off or cut it free with a clean knife, let it dry a few days out of the sun, then plant it.
Does it have spines?
The leaf edges have small teeth, but the leaves are soft and fleshy. Mangave teeth are much softer than an agave's, so it is far easier to handle.
Does it need afternoon shade in Phoenix?
It grows in full sun and handles some shade during the day. In the Valley, some shade from the hot afternoon sun in summer helps keep the leaves from burning.
How often should I water it?
It needs little water once it is rooted. Water deeply, then let the soil dry before watering again. It takes a little more water than most agaves, but soggy soil can rot it.
How cold hardy is 'Jaguar'?
It handles cold down to about 20 to 25°F. On colder nights, cover it with frost cloth down to the ground, and move potted plants next to the house.
Can snout weevils get mangaves?
Yes. The agave snout weevil can attack mangaves too. Watch for wilting or wrinkled leaves and a plant that rocks loose. Good drainage and not overwatering help most.
Mangave Jaguar for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mangave 'Jaguar' is a selection of the spotted manfreda, Manfreda guttata, sold alongside the mangaves. It grows fast into a tight clump of olive green, purple-spotted rosettes. This page covers its size, how it handles Valley sun and water, cold, blooming and pups.
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How big does Mangave 'Jaguar' get?
It forms a tight clump about 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It grows fast and fills in with pups as it spreads.
Is Mangave 'Jaguar' a manfreda or an agave?
It is listed as Manfreda guttata 'Jaguar', a selection of a spotted manfreda, and it is grown and sold alongside the mangaves. The manfreda side brings the spots, fast growth and softer leaves.
Does Mangave 'Jaguar' die after flowering?
No. It blooms now and then on tall, thin spikes 6 to 7 feet tall and keeps growing afterward. That sets it apart from agaves, which die after they bloom.
Growing Mangave 'Jaguar' in Arizona sun
It grows in full sun and handles some shade. In the Valley, some shade from the hot afternoon sun in summer helps keep the leaves from burning. More sun makes the spots stronger.
How often do you water a mangave in Phoenix?
Once it is rooted, it needs little water. Water deeply, then let the soil dry out before the next watering. Plant it in soil that drains, since soggy soil can rot it.
Is Mangave 'Jaguar' frost hardy?
It handles cold down to about 20 to 25°F. On hard freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth or a sheet down to the ground, not plastic, and uncover it in the morning.
Planting a mangave in caliche soil
Mangaves need soil that drains. If you hit caliche, dig all the way through it so water can drain out of the hole. Water that sits on caliche can rot the roots.
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